FDA Import Refusals Logged by DWCI
← all import divisions · dashboard
The DWCI import division logged 5,578 FDA border rejections between 2020 and 2026, 21.5% of all US import refusals in the dataset. The origins it rejects most often are China, India, Vietnam. Its most-rejected product category is Fishery/Seafood Products. Volume in 2025 was up 32% on 2024.
Email me when the DWCI import division logs new FDA import refusals
One email a week, and only when something matches. We'll send a confirmation link first; unsubscribe any time from the footer of any email.
Border rejections notified by DWCI, by year
| Year | Border rejections | YoY | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 670 | — | |
| 2021 | 599 | -10.6% | |
| 2022 | 678 | +13.2% | |
| 2023 | 794 | +17.1% | |
| 2024 | 879 | +10.7% | |
| 2025 | 1,162 | +32.2% | |
| 2026 | 796 | — | YTD |
| Total | 5,578 |
Origins most rejected by DWCI
| # | Origin country | Rejections |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 1,312 |
| 2 | India | 831 |
| 3 | Vietnam | 526 |
| 4 | Philippines | 362 |
| 5 | South Korea | 321 |
| 6 | Indonesia | 300 |
| 7 | Thailand | 265 |
| 8 | Taiwan | 204 |
| 9 | Japan | 187 |
| 10 | Hong Kong | 106 |
| 11 | Pakistan | 97 |
| 12 | Malaysia | 54 |
| 13 | Guatemala | 44 |
| 14 | Turkey | 40 |
| 15 | Bangladesh | 36 |
| 16 | Chile | 35 |
| 17 | Italy | 35 |
| 18 | Fiji | 34 |
| 19 | Peru | 34 |
| 20 | Sri Lanka | 32 |
| 21 | United States | 32 |
| 22 | Egypt | 29 |
| 23 | Portugal | 29 |
| 24 | United Arab Emirates | 29 |
| 25 | Afghanistan | 27 |
| 26 | El Salvador | 27 |
| 27 | Mexico | 24 |
| 28 | Ecuador | 22 |
| 29 | Myanmar | 21 |
| 30 | Tanzania | 21 |
Product categories rejected by DWCI
| # | Product category | Rejections |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fishery/Seafood Products | 1,158 |
| 2 | Vegetables and Vegetable Products | 826 |
| 3 | Fruit and Fruit Products | 786 |
| 4 | Spices, Flavors, and Salts | 334 |
| 5 | Bakery Products, Doughs, Bakery Mixes, and Icings | 297 |
| 6 | Multiple Food Dinners, Gravies, Sauces, and Specialties (Total Diet) | 283 |
| 7 | Vitamins, Minerals, Proteins, and Unconventional Dietary Specialties for Humans | 281 |
| 8 | Nuts and Edible Seeds | 276 |
| 9 | Snack Food Items (Flour, Meal, or Vegetable Base) | 226 |
| 10 | Whole Grains, Milled Grain Products, and Starch | 182 |
| 11 | Candy Without Chocolate, Candy Specialties, and Chewing Gum | 179 |
| 12 | Macaroni and Noodle Products | 149 |
| 13 | Ice Cream and Related Products | 128 |
| 14 | Soft Drinks and Waters | 76 |
| 15 | Baby (Infant and Junior) Food Products | 51 |
Recent rejections notified by DWCI
- AWJ-0327676-8 ChinaVegetables and Vegetable ProductsENOKITAKE MUSHROOMS, WHOLE (BUTTON) (FUNGI) listeria
- EJ4-0058905-0 IndiaMacaroni and Noodle ProductsNOODLES AND NOODLE PRODUCTS, N.E.C. filthyunsafe colcolor lblg
- EVJ-1264207-3 ThailandFishery/Seafood ProductsFISH, N.E.C. filthymfrhaccpinsanitary
- BDD-0834569-2 ChinaSpices, Flavors, and SaltsFIVE SPICE MIX, GROUND, CRACKED, WITHOUT SALT filthy
- DM4-0864690-7 El SalvadorCandy Without Chocolate, Candy Specialties, and Chewing GumFLAVORED CANDY, SOFT (LIVE SAVERS, ETC.), WITHOUT NUTS AND FRUIT (WITHOUT CHOCOLATE) unsafe colcolor lblg
- EVJ-1265504-2 ThailandFishery/Seafood ProductsFISH, N.E.C. filthy
- 471-0266567-7 ThailandFishery/Seafood ProductsSHRIMP AND PRAWNS, AQUACULTURE HARVESTED FISHERY/SEAFOOD PRODUCTS vetdrugres
- AQZ-0656461-4 MalaysiaFishery/Seafood ProductsSHRIMP & PRAWNS, BREADED unsafe add
- G05-1143780-1 ThailandFishery/Seafood ProductsBARRACUDA filthy
- G05-1143709-0 PakistanWhole Grains, Milled Grain Products, and StarchRICE, BASMATI, PROCESSED (PACKAGED) pesticide
- TXC-1506367-9 SwedenCandy Without Chocolate, Candy Specialties, and Chewing GumCANDY WITHOUT CHOCOLATE N.E.C. color lblglacks n/cnutrit lblno english+2 more
- U47-2608503-6 ChinaIce Cream and Related ProductsICE CREAM BARS yellow #5
- NFT-2090056-8 ChinaIce Cream and Related ProductsICES, FRUIT FLAVORED, ON A STICK, (POPSICLES, ETC.) unsafe col
- SCS-4229350-4 ThailandFruit and Fruit ProductsTAMARIND, JAM, JELLY, PRESERVES, MARMALADE, BUTTER OR CANDIED filthy
- NFT-2090049-3 ChinaIce Cream and Related ProductsICES, FRUIT FLAVORED, ON A STICK, (POPSICLES, ETC.) unsafe col
- B8P-0418484-6 SwedenCandy Without Chocolate, Candy Specialties, and Chewing GumFLAVORED CANDY, SOFT (LIVE SAVERS, ETC.), WITH FRUIT (WITHOUT CHOCOLATE) unsafe colcolor lblg
- KM6-1651805-6 IndiaVegetables and Vegetable ProductsMIXED VEGETABLES, N.E.C. poisonous
- BDD-6710903-9 PhilippinesVegetables and Vegetable ProductsPEPPER, HOT, N.E.C. (FRUIT USED AS VEGETABLE) pesticide
- EPM-0196013-3 South KoreaFishery/Seafood ProductsSQUID, OTHER AQUATIC SPECIES salmonella
- 9EX-2607398-4 ChinaFruit and Fruit ProductsCHINESE RED DATE (JUJUBES, ZIZIPHUS JUJUBA) (PIT FRUIT) filthy
About FDA import refusals
What is an FDA import refusal?
An FDA import refusal is an entry that FDA examined, or sampled, and refused admission into US commerce — most often because it appeared adulterated or misbranded under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. It is an entry-level administrative action, not a finding of guilt and not an adjudication; the importer may recondition, re-export or destroy the goods.
What is the difference between the import division and the country of origin?
The import division is one of FDA's own operating divisions that processed the entry and issued the refusal. The country of origin is where the refused product was produced or shipped from. These pages rank import divisions by the number of refusals they issued, separately from the origin-country breakdown.
Do import refusals keep unsafe food out of the United States?
Yes, that is their purpose: refusing an entry at the border stops a non-compliant consignment from reaching US commerce. Not every refusal is a safety finding, though — roughly a quarter are labelling or registration failures rather than a hazard in the product itself, which is why this site counts hazard and paperwork refusals separately.